Meet me in the Afterglow [MMITA]

117: Ring

Listen to Huling Sandali by December Avenue repeatedly until you finish this chapter.

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ELLE RILEY GOMEZ

"Elle Riley"

That voice. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. I wipe my tears before I decided to look at her.

Ang balak ko sana ay hindi ipakita na kagagaling ko lang sa pag-iyak pero sino bang niloloko ko? We were staring at each other sa music room while we're both crying. Lumapit ako sa kanya.

Medyo nagulat pa ako kasi hindi sya lumayo. First time. First time nyang hindi lumayo pamula noong nangyari yon, pamula nung kumalat ung video.

Hindi naman ako ganoon kalapit, I feel like kalahating dipa ung layo namin sa isa't isa. But I feel like it will be the closest distance between the two of us.

"Elle Riley, w-why are you crying?" Shobe ask. I chuckled. Bakit daw ako naiyak, e sya itong naiyak din.

"Masyado kasing ginalingan kumanta e. Nadala ako" pagsakay ko sa katanungan nya. Love in the Dark by Adele is so depressing. I feel like the lyrics were meant for me. I feel like those are the words she want to say to me and I ... I can't accept that, but I need to.

"I see" Shobe said. I smile at her.

"Y-you should go to your office na. Get some rest and w-wipe your tears, because I can't wipe it anymore" I said.

"W-why can't you wipe it anymore?" Shobe ask. Mas lalo lang tumulo ang mga luha nya sa kaniyang mata habang ako I'm clenching my teeth so that my tears won't betray me.

"W-wala na akong karapatan, Ms. Krys" saad ko naman at ngumiti sa kanya ng peke. Tumango sya.

Nakatitig lang ako sa magandang mukha nya. Sobrang mamimiss ko itong tao na'to. Ang ganda, sobrang ganda.

"Who was there for you?" pambabasag nya sa katahimikan.

"Hmm?" I ask while smiling I am busy admiring her face.

"W-who was there for you when you w-were crying like a baby? Who was there for you to wipe your t-tears?" Shobe ask.

Despite for my wrongdoings, she still care. Napangiti ako ng malungkot. I don't deserve her. I don't really deserve someone like her. I can't take her for granted, once again. I lost my chance to have someone beside me who really cares for me.

Umiling ako sa katanungan nya. Wala naman talaga. What's the point of lying to her once again?

She cried hard when she finally got an answer to her question. Tinakpan nya ng kanyang kamay ung mga mata nya.
Gustuhin ko man na punasan ang kanyang mga luha ...

I ... I just can't.

"B-bakit di ka nagsabi kay S-Shannah? Marami ka namang kaibigan, a-andyan sila France. Andyan din sila A-Ae" himutok nya at tuluyan ng tinanggal ang mga kamay nya sa kanyang mukha. Nananatili lang akong tahimik.

She's too kind. Ayokong umasa na may magandang patutunguhan itong pag-uusap namin ngayon, my instincts doesn't betray me. I don't want to cry anymore but ... I know whatever it is, hindi ko na kakayanin pa.

"I-I feel like I don't deserve that. I-I c-cheated on y-you. May karapatan ba mga c-cheater ma-comfort?" I ask. Napatahimik sya.

"I love you so much, Elle Riley." Shobe confesses na ikinakirot ng puso ko. Shobe cried so hard after she said that, para bang nabunutan sya ng tinik noong sinabi nya yon, at para bang natanggal ung mabigat na nakadagan sa kanyang dibdib noong sinabi nya ulit ang mga katagang iyon.